New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-29
FOURTEEN HORSES BURNED.
A BIG BLAZE IN LONG ISLAND CITY.


WHOLE EAST SIDE or THE CITY LIGHTED UP.
Long Island City was lit up last night NV n
big blaze that made short work with a ,arco
machine shop and coal yard and burned four.
teen horses to death Flames were discovered
in Pringle Boyce's machine shop, which was
In the middle Of long row of wooden buildines
in Vernonave. about 6:45 p. m. The watch
man, who lives in part Of the building, was
near at hand, and when the alarm was given
he with several other volunteers tried to rescue
the fourteen horses that were stabbed on the
ground hoor under the shop. The building,
however, was like finder, and hardly moment
passed after the first streak of flame shot through
The roof before the whole middle of the building
was a mass of flames. The men who attempted
10 rescue the horses had TO run from the build
ing Tor their lives, and not one of the animals
got out
Inc whinneying OF the imprisoned horses was
heartrending, and the men started TO 90 back for
the second time to rescue the Door brutes Bpt
the flames were now bun ting out of all the doors
and windows facing VernOn-ave, and the attemut
was given up. by this time an alarm of fire
had been sounded and thousands of people. at
tracted by the blaze, hastened to the burning
building. Mayor GleasOn's engine soon arrived
and had stream playing on the fire. Several
nose companies came shortly after and lines
OF hose were attached TO the hydrants near by.
Inc names, however, continued to spread with
great rap'dity, and soon were curling high no
III the air, lighting up the sky with dazzling
brilliancy
Ihe fremcn worked hard to surround the fln
and prevent 1T from spreading to the large coal
oins Oh John Ill. Provost directly behind the
machine shop. The flames gained headway for
ha ~ tba
was burning fiercciy. The elevator shaft in
which the coal Was hOisted also caught FIRE
and it looked though nothing short of the
river would stop the progress of the flames
Between the large coal bin and the river is
John III. Lawrcnces lumber yard. In il are
stored many thousand feet of yellow pine which.
once anfe, could have been put out only after
u long struggle. Two of the Standard OIL
Companys steamers alongside the burning
buildings and six more streams were added 10
the fire force. They proved exceedingly valuable.
Tor the lire was completely surrounded and lis
lrogress toward the river was cut of
Iheie we're many bales oil hay An the stabe
ana Tor long time several streams OF waief
were poured upon them. The fire worked ms
way slowly toward the office OF Mr. Provost.
which Is on the fiushngst. side. 1t was com
pietely gutted before the fire could be cut OF
in that direction. In tue meantime the coal
IN the burning bin had begun to flame, and
famed by the wind the big bin soon becams
an immense furnace heated to red heat. Great
difficulty was experienced in getting at the fire,
for the streams were exceedingly weak and could
not reach il. Ladders were afterward obtained
and a number OF streams were poured into
the bins, putting out the fire after many tors
OF coal had been destroyed
Trains from RoclIaway Beach and Coney IsanG
had been coming in to the station few blocks
away loaded down with passengers, and many
of them went TO the scene of the fire. Captain
Wood, of the Long Island Police, had only a
few men with him. and the crowd interferrd
greatly with the work of the firemen. No order
could be preserved there were not enough oib-
GERS to hold the fire line.
The loss will fall heaviest on Mr.. Provost
yhe builing, horses wegors and stock bnrred,
oil belonging TO him, are valued at S20,yoo:
Pringlc & Boycc, machinsts. will lose on ma
chinery and stock $4,000, and John Slattery.
the watchman, will lose few hundred dollars
on furniture. All were partially insured. The
iron bridge over NewtOwn Creek. within few
feet of the buildings, had narrow escape. and
the heat was so great that some of the ircn
work badly warped.